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Arrival of Octavian.

Matters had been farther complicated by the
appearance of the young Octavian on the scene. He
had been sent by his uncle for the winter to
Apollonia, where he might with less interruption
than at Rome pursue his studies and perfect his
military education. But immediately he received
from his mother the news of the Dictator's
assassination, he started with a small retinue of
friends for Italy. On the 11th of April Cicero
writes that he has heard of his arrival and is
anxious to know how he has been received.1 On the 18th he
came to Naples, saw Balbus, and declared his
acceptance of his great-uncle's inheritance, which
was sure to cause, Balbus thinks, much bad blood
between him and Antony, who had laid hands on much
which Octavian would claim, on the ground that it
was public money.2 In a letter of the 22nd Cicero decribes
a meeting with him at the villa of his stepfather
Philippus near Puteoli. He watched to
see how he was addressed by his friends. They all
called him Caesar, in virtue of his adoption in
the will of his great-uncle. But
Philippus—who wished him to refuse the
inheritance—did not do so. Cicero
therefore also refrained, but anxiously observed
his disposition towards the party of Antony. The
young man appears to have been characteristically
cautious, speaking of the existing state of things
indeed as "intolerable," but not suggesting his
views as to their remedy or committing himself to
anything. Cicero was doubtful. He mistrusted the
friends surrounding him, who would make it
"impossible for him to be a good citizen," and he
felt indignant at his being able to go safely to
the city from which Brutus and Cassius and the
other "heroes" were excluded. Still he could not
but acknowledge that Octavian treated him
personally with respect,3 and he presently began to cherish a
hope that he might use his grievances against
Antony to draw him into closer union with the
party of the Optimates. But this hope was a good
deal dashed early in May by the report of a speech
delivered in Rome by Octavian, in which he spoke
in glowing terms of his great-uncle, declared his
intention of paying the legacies to the citizens,
and celebrating the games which he had
promised.4 However, Cicero did not give up hope of
him, and his final verdict at this period is
distinctly rather favourable: “In
Octavianus, as I have perceived, there is no
little ability and spirit, and he seems likely to
be as well disposed to our heroes as I could wish.
But what confidence one can feel in a man of his
age, name, inheritance, and upbringing may well
give us pause. His stepfather, whom I have seen at
Astura, thinks none at all. However, we must
foster him, and, if nothing else, keep him apart
from Antony. Marcellus will be doing admirable
service if he gives him good advice. Octavian
seemed to me to be devoted to him: but he has no
great confidence in Pansa and Hirtius. His
disposition is good if it does but last.5
”

It will be observed that Cicero now speaks of
the young man as Octavianus, thus acknowledging
his adoption. He also seems now or
soon after to have begun a correspondence with
him, unfortunately lost, which later on became
almost more continuous than he quite relished. For
the present he was only one of the agents whom he
hoped to use against Antony. Like so many of his
hopes, this too was doomed to disappointment.
Octavian was determined to maintain his rights
against Antony, but in his heart was no thought of
permanent friendship with the clique which had
murdered his uncle and adoptive father, and was
anxious above all things to retain the direction
of the state and the wealth of the provinces in
its hands.

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